NYMPHING--THE BASIC CONCEPTS
Many anglers feel that nymphing is too difficult for them. This is most unfortunate as trout spend 90% of their time feeding on nymphal forms. For those who decide to master the techniques of nymphing they find this style of fishing exciting and very rewarding. The nymph fisher is a very diverse angler who must learn how to fish from the bottom of the stream all the way to the surface film. The nymph fisher also must learn how to fish in all water types, from rough, heavy runs to smooth, flowing flats. The nymph fisher must also learn how to use methods employed in wet fly, dry fly and streamer fishing on the way to mastering the art of fishing the nymph. Anglers who take the time to master this type of fishing generally are found to be more complete anglers and tend to be more effective and innovative in their fishing.
GETTING STARTED
Going out to the river, jumping right in and flailing away is not the way to do it. Understanding the basic insect groups and what your river has to offer is the proper way to go. The four major groups of nymphs that the nymph fisher must deal with are: stoneflies, caddisflies, mayflies and midges. Once you understand what insects are found on your home waters, and where these insects are found, then you can begin to select proper imitations. A little time spent observing and sampling the waters you intend to fish will save you plenty of frustration later.
The next step in the process is understanding the concepts of where the trout are found in the stream. These places are called lies. There are three types of lies found in a stream. They are: Sheltering Lies, Feeding Lies and Prime Lies.
Sheltering Lies: These places offer protection from heavy currents and predators. They may also offer some feeding opportunities. Sheltering lies are found around boulders, under logs, in the deepest parts of a riffle, the edges of gravel bars and off the deeper sides of weed beds. If you hook a trout in shallow water, watch where he tries to go as generally they try to head for their sheltering lies.
Feeding Lies: Always found in shallow water and offers the trout greater feeding opportunities but no protection from predators. Trout in feeding lies must be approached with caution as they tend to be rather spooky. Feeding lies are places such as the shallow water on top of a weed bed, the edges of the riffles, off the ends of gravel bars and in the shallow water close to shore.
Prime Lies: Offer the trout the best of both worlds. They have cover from predators, protection from heavy currents, and are an excellent place to feed. Seek out the prime lies carefully as they will generally hold larger trout. Examples of prime lies are the pockets behind the larger boulder in rough water, sunken logs with current tongues along the leading edge, the deeper parts of riffle water, undercut banks and the drop-off edges of riffles.
PRESENTATION METHODS
There are some basic presentation methods the nymph fisher must master if he/she wishes to become effective and successful.
Wet Fly Method: This method is the oldest form of nymph fishing, having been around for several hundred years. Some anglers think that this method was developed in the East for less than wary brook trout and, therefore, disdain using such a method. But, in fact, this method was developed in England for spooky and selective brown trout. This method is very effective when imitating organisms that swim, such as leeches, caddis emergers and some mayfly emergers. The angler needs only to cast down and across the stream, and follow the drift with the rod tip. With this method the current does most of the work. The leader tippets should be long enough to allow the fly to go deep at the top of the drift. As the current pulls the line tight, the fly will start to rise to the surface. Be careful when using this method. The strikes can be very hard. At the end of the swing, the angler can impart a little movement to the fly by employing jerky, little strips. This will sometimes take a fish that has followed the fly.
Leisenring Lift: This is one of the most popular and useful methods for the nymph fisher to master. The lift can be fished in water up to 5' in depth and offers the angler many variations. The cast is made up and across stream. A 4' to 5' tippet is used to allow the fly to go deep. As the line drifts downstream, the rod is lifted to control the slack line. When the line gets below the angler, the rod is then slowly lowered to maintain a good, drag free dead drift. This method is used to imitate organisms that dead drift in the current or make little motion. While using this method, I strongly urge the use of a strike indicator. As the line swings out below the angler, one technique which is deadly when the caddis are emerging, is to slowly lift the rod tip and jiggle the tip from side to side. This action will cause the fly to rise just like an emerging caddis. This same method can be employed in deep runs by using a sink tip or wet belly line.
Upstream Shotgun Method: This method is deadly in riffles and fast water. First, you divide the riffle into 15' X 15' blocks and cast into each section several times before you move on. You need to master line control before you can successfully employ this method. (The line control techniques I employ will be discussed later.) While using this method, use a strike indicator. Watch the indicator carefully. If you see it stop or dart upstream, tighten into the fish.
You will probably hook a rock now and then, but if you devise a method of telling a rock strike from a trout within a split second, please share it with the rest of us. Most of the time I will employ the use of a split shot on the leader to help get the fly down. Nowadays, bead head style nymphs have become very popular, so, often, a split shot is not needed.
This method is great in just about all water types for imitating stoneflies, mayflies and midges drifting down the stream in a dead drift fashion. With this method you must stay alert as you are constantly casting upstream and the fly is moving back toward you fairly fast. We will discuss casting, controlling the slack and playing the fish in the Line Control section.
Downstream Dead Drift Method: This technique works well on the selective and spooky trout of rivers like the Henry's Fork, Big Horn and the Livingston area spring creeks. This method is used to present the imitation downstream dead drift to the trout before the line and leader. To use this method, the angler must master the Parachute Cast. The Parachute Cast is simply a regular forward cast, but at the end of the cast, you move your arm back, allowing slack to fall on the water and lower the rod tip to control the slack as needed. With this method the angler can skate their flies right into the trout's feeding lane and then lower the rod tip to get a proper drift. This method is very effective on trout taking midge or mayfly emergers. Remember when using this method to allow the nymph to go beyond the trout, and then move your rod tip off to the side before picking up for the next cast. Otherwise you may spook the fish.
These are some of the basic forms of nymphing that allow the angler to fish from the bottom of the river to the top.
WIND/LINE CONTROL and FIGHTING THE FISH
When fishing during windy days, the angler should try to keep casts as short as possible and cast as tight a loop as possible. If the wind is very brisk, don't fight it ‑go with the flow. If it's blowing downstream, then fish downstream.
Under any fly fishing conditions, the most important item the angler has to deal with is drag. Learning how to use a "reach mend" and learning to mend your line on the water will go a long way toward solving many of your drag problems. The reach mend is accomplished by reaching the rod to the left or right after the cast is completed, but before the line has reached the water. Mending your line on the water is most often done by flipping the belly of the line upstream to put some slack in the line and leader. For better line control while casting, try shooting the line through your line hand but not releasing it, then place the line under a finger of the rod hand, lower the rod to a horizontal position and strip in the slack line with the line hand. With a little practice, you will find that you never have to look down at your hands and can pay closer attention to the indicator or line tip.
Sometimes when fishing upstream, the angler has problems picking up the line for the next cast. Try using a roll cast pickup to start the cast. All one needs is a couple of false casts and put the fly back in the water, that's where the trout are. Watching some anglers, a non fishing person might get the idea they were fishing for birds with as much time as they spend false casting. Remember you want that nymph wet so stop trying to dry it out.
Once the fish takes the fly, set the hook ‑smoothly and firmly. That doesn't mean trying to rip the jaw off!! Once you feel the fish, give a little and let the trout have line if he wants it. If the fish runs at you, strip in the slack, but put that slack on the reel as soon as you can. Do so by hooking the line under the little finger of your rod hand and putting the slack on the reel under tension. Putting the line on loose will cause real problems if the fish makes a second run. Follow the fish downstream if you have to. If you let the trout get too far below you, the weight of the current on the line will pull the fly out or break the tippet. Work the trout into a quiet water pocket or into shore to land it. By moving the rod from the up-position to either side, you change the direction and angle of the pull, thus making the trout adjust to you, rather than the other way around. Changing the angle of pull on the trout, will allow you to land the trout faster. Try to release the trout in quiet water so the chance of survival is greater.
FISHING RIFFLES
Fishing in the riffles can be both fun and challenging for the angler. The fly will float through the water quickly. The angler is casting often and the strike can come very quickly, so the angler must be very alert. But the fishing in riffles can be very rewarding as there are many places for the trout to hold. There are a few factors in favor of the angler when fishing riffles. When the angler chooses to fish the riffle using the upstream method, he/she soon learns that in that choppy water one can approach very close to the trout. The choppy surface distorts the trout's view. Also, remember that the trout facing is upstream watching for food. Also note that the sounds of the water will hide the sounds of the angler's wading. Just remember about where the trout lives and look for those areas and fish them carefully.
TIPS ON NYMPHING IN THE SMOOTH WATER
Most of the techniques covered in the "Methods" section will work on the smooth waters. Here are a few additional tips to help anglers that are fishing streams like Henry's Fork, the Firehole, Slough Creek or the spring creeks of the Livingston area. On smooth water, the angler must use care and approach the trout with caution. Trout in smooth water tend to be a little spookier than those found in fast water. Presentation of the fly is also much more demanding on trout feeding in smooth water. Trout will often take the most abundant food form available in this type of water and can be very selective in doing so. The angler should watch closely to see what the trout is taking and where he is taking it. Is the fish picking nymphs off the bottom or is he following the emergers up and taking them just under the surface film?
So, the angler must decide what the trout is taking and what method to use to place the nymph to the fish in the proper manner. Many times, when approaching a fish, the angler should try to break up the silhouette of the body by placing some brush in front or behind him/her. Bending over also helps to present a smaller target for the fish to see.
If the trout is laying very close to the surface, his window is very small and he can't see very far. Under these conditions the angler can sometimes approach within 15' of the trout. However, this also means that the trout's feeding lane is very small and the angler is going to have to put the fly in that feeding lane if the trout is going to be taken. If the trout is laying a foot or more under the surface, then the closest the angler better approach is about 30'. When wading in smooth water, do so slowly and carefully as the trout will spook off if you go charging about like a wounded grizzly. Remember to look for the lies. They are sometimes harder to spot in smooth water, but try looking for undercut banks, water that has overhanging brush close to shore, brush piles and off the deep edges of the weed beds.
I have covered the basic methods which will start you on your way to becoming a nymph fisher. This is a very exciting method of fishing and once mastered, you will find yourself catching more and larger trout.